Are You Making Accelerated Bi-Weekly Payments?

Over the past number of years banks have come up with a rather confusing set of payment frequency options that have left some mortgage clients a bit disappointed 5 years down the road. Rather than the Amortization crushing ‘Accelerated bi-weekly’ plan which a quality Mortgage Broker will discuss with you, clients left to their own…

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GTA Realtors® Report February Resale Market Figures

TORONTO, March 4, 2015 – Toronto Real Estate Board President Paul Etherington announced that Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 6,338 home sales through the TorontoMLS system in February 2015. This result represented a substantial 11.3 per cent year-over-year increase compared to February 2014. Large annual increases in transactions were noted for most major home types,…

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Current Residential Mortgage Rates as of March 3, 2015

Term Fixed Closed Rate 6 months 3.95% 1 Year 2.79% 2 Year 2.34% 3 Year 2.59% 4 Year 2.74% 5 Year 2.74% or 2.59%* 7 Year 3.29% 10 Year 3.89% Prime = 2.85% Variable Closed (5 yr) = Prime minus 0.70% = 2.15% Variable Open = Prime plus 0.80% = 3.65% Secured Credit Lines =…

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Creating Your Dream Kitchen

An updated kitchen does more than boost the value of your home. It is the central meeting place for most families. So no matter whether you make just a few changes or completely renovate the space, a kitchen that feels new is always refreshing and welcoming. From basic cooking to frequent entertaining, a dream kitchen…

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Quick Bath Updates

If a major bath renovation isn’t in your budget, there are a few ways to freshen up the space without spending a lot of time and money. Paint A fresh coat of paint can add instant style with little expense and effort. The bathroom is one space where you can afford to be daring and…

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Assigning an Agreement of Purchase and Sale

By Lorne Shuman: An Assignment of an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (“Assignment”) takes place when the original purchaser from the builder assigns or sells the contract that it signed with the builder.  This column will address many of the issues that need to be considered in an Assignment. Most builder Agreements contain a clause…

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5 Things to Remember When Doing a Renovation

Written By: Mark Weisleder Here are 5 things to remember before you hire anyone to renovate your home: 1. Check references   Ask any contractor how long they have been in business and for a list of prior customers and then call each one to make sure that the work was completed on time and…

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Around Your Home

1. Your furnace is working overtime these days to keep an even temperature in your home. Help it do its job by cleaning air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators. Cleaning these regularly can boost the efficiency of your heating system by 10 per cent. Clean or replace the furnace filter every month. Seal air ducts…

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Check Status Certificate Before Selling Your Condo

Written by Mark Weisleder: Most condominium resale agreements are conditional upon the buyer lawyer being satisfied with the contents of the condominium status certificate. If the contents of this certificate are different than what was represented to the buyer when they signed the original agreement, then the buyer may be able to cancel the deal.…

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The 5 Latest “Must-Have” Amenities of Home Buyers

Besides an upscale kitchen and plenty of space, what are new-home buyers’ looking for when house hunting? Surveys by the National Association of Home Builders and homebuilder PulteGroup shed some light on a few of the latest in-demand amenities. 1. Walk-in closets: Large closets, particularly in the master bedroom, is among one of home shoppers’…

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